Polish Lecture Series

April 2, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM | FIU-MMC-SIPA-II-Pavilion, room 102

Blanka Rosenstiel Lecture Series on Poland

Resistance under Occupations
The Polish Underground and the Struggle Against Nazi Rule

History of the Polish resistance movement during World War II. Dr. Joshua Zimmerman explored the structure and goals of the Polish Underground, examining how resistance efforts operated under Nazi occupation and navigated complex relationships with German authorities and Allied powers. We also considered the internal tensions and debates that shaped the movement, alongside the broader historical context of occupied Poland. Together, these perspectives offered a deeper understanding of the Polish resistance and the critical role it played during the war.

Speakers:

  Dr. Joshua D. Zimmerman
  Eli and Diana Zborowski Professional Chair in Holocaust Studies and East   
  European Jewish History, and Professor of History, Yeshiva University

  Dr. Rebecca Friedman
  Professor of History and Founding Director
  Green School Public Humanities Lab

>> To view pictures, click here

November 5, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | FIU Green School International Pavilion (SIPA II, Room 102)

Blanka Rosenstiel Lecture Series

Solidarity Movement in Pictures

Special presentation by Polish artist Maciej Aleksandrowicz, featuring his remarkable collection of photographs documenting Poland's Solidarity movement, a key force in challenging communist rule. Captured by eyewitnesses during a pivotal moment in Poland’s history, these images illuminate the power of collective action and the resilience of ordinary citizens demanding freedom and dignity. Through visual storytelling, the collection transcends language, allowing history to be experienced as well as remembered. Each photograph conveys not only the struggle of the era but also the enduring spirit of hope, offering profound insight into the transformative power of images in shaping memory. These remarkable images will feature in a compelling exhibition entitled Fragments of a Disappearing World.

Presented in collaboration with

College of Architecture + The Arts
American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc.

Guest speaker

Prof. Maciej Aleksandrowicz is a professor of fine arts specializing in sculpture and public art. He studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and at the Institute of Art History at the University of Warsaw. His research and artistic work focus on public space and site-specific art practices, particularly in relation to historical memory and civic identity. He has received multiple creative fellowships from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (2008, 2019) and was a Kościuszko Foundation fellow in New York, conducting research on public art in the United States. He has participated in numerous exhibitions and sculpture competitions and leads public art workshops exploring the role of memory in contemporary space. Prof. Aleksandrowicz teaches in the Spatial Design Studio at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. From 2020 to 2025, he served as Director of the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko, where he also oversaw the editorial direction of Orońsko Quarterly and curated the national investment program Sculpture in Public Space for Independence, aimed at supporting local communities through public art initiatives.

Moderator

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November 7, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | FIU Miami Beach Urban Studio | MBUS Design Gallery

Presented in collaboration with
Collet of Architecture + The Arts
American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc.

Opening Reception
Fragments of a Disappearing World

Fragments of a Disappearing World is a curated exhibition centered on the private photographic archive of Stanisław Kołodziejski, documenting daily life in Poland during the transformative period of the 1980s. This body of work captures the lived experience of ordinary citizens amid the fall of communism, the nation’s pursuit of autonomy, and the subsequent disillusionment with the collapsing Soviet regime. This exhibition presents the archive not only as a historical artifact, but as an artistic medium—a dynamic and participatory memorial form. Positioned at the intersection of personal narrative and collective history, the project is led by two curators and artists: Prof. Maciej Aleksandrowicz and Prof. Jacek J. Kolasiński.
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MBUS Design Gallery
FIU Miami Beach Urban Studio
420 Lincoln Road, Suite 440, Miami Beach, FL 33139
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Curators

Prof. Maciej Aleksandrowicz
professor of fine arts specializing in sculpture and public art.

Prof. Jacek J. Kolasiński 
Interdisciplinary artist, designer, and curator
Founding director of the Ratcliffe Incubator of Art + Design at FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, and previously served as chair of the Department of Art + Art History.
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Co-sponsors:
- Dorothea Green Lecture Series
- Ruth K. & Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series
- Václav Havel Program for Human Rights & Democracy
- Department of Politics & International Relations
- Green School Asian Studies Program
- European & Eurasian Studies Program

April 8, 2025 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | FIU Green School International Pavilion (SIPA II - Room 102)

Spies in my Blood
A Polish Family's Secret Fight Against Nazis and Communists

Author Alex Storozynski discussed his powerful memoir, Spies In My Blood. This true story follows two brothers raised in New York by World War II exiles, each embarking on a separate mission to infiltrate the Communist secret police in Poland and uncover the truth about their family's legacy of soldiers, spies and assassins. Storozynski recounts his own journey behind the Iron Curtain, where his investigative work on Polish dissidents led to him being declared an "enemy of the state." Spies In My Blood offers a compelling exploration of the untold atrocities of World War II and the Cold War, and the urgent lessons history provides to prevent repeating its darkest moments. 

Guest Speaker

Alex Storozynski is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, award-winning author, filmmaker and former President & Chairman of The Kosciuszko Foundation. He authored The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution, which won multiple awards, including the Fraunces Tavern Book Award. Storozynski also directed the PBS documentary Kosciuszko: A Man Ahead of His Time. A former editorial board member at the New York Daily News, his work has appeared in top publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post. Storozynski is a recipient of the Lech Wałęsa Media Award and was decorated with Poland's Gold Cross of Merit and Officer's Cross of Merit.

Moderator:

Tatiana Kostadinova, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations
Director, European & Eurasian Studies Program, FIU

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>>To view pictures, click here
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Sponsor: The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc.

Co-sponsors:
- Dorothea Green Lecture Series
- Václav Havel Program for Human Rights & Democracy
- Department of Politics & International Relations
- European & Eurasian Studies Program

Nov. 15, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM* | FIU-MMC-SIPA-II-Pavilion, room 102

A New Role in New Europe: Poland’s Strategic Priorities and Challenges

Since the war in Ukraine began, Poland has been pivotal in the international effort to repel Russian aggression. From humanitarian engagement to military assistance, Polish authorities, nongovernmental organizations, and ordinary citizens have proven proficient and resilient in light of novel challenges. Its unwavering support for Ukraine and unique geopolitical position have put the spotlight on Poland’s rising clout in both NATO and the European Union.

Speaker:

Ambassador Marek Magierowski, who graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan with a degree in Hispanic Studies, was a journalist for over 20 years. He served as deputy head of the economic desk at Gazeta Wyborcza, head of the foreign affairs desk and the business section at Newsweek Polska, and deputy editor-in-chief of Forum and Rzeczpospolita. In 2015, he joined the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and was subsequently appointed Head of the Press Office of the Chancellery of the President. In 2017-2018, he served as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from 2018-21, was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the State of Israel.

Nov. 15, 2023 | 6:30-8:00 p.m. | FIU-MMC-Green School Gallery

THE UNCAPTIVE MIND "Nie zniewolony umysł " Art Exhibition Opening Reception

Art Exhibition Opening Reception Wednesday, November 15 | 6:30 PM Green School Gallery

Original Polish posters from the 1950s to 1980s exhibition shown for the very first time in Miami

The Polish School of Posters (1950s to 1980s) stands as an artistic marvel and a testament to human ingenuity – a vibrant, creative, and innovative movement that brilliantly infused vivid colors, subliminal messages, and sharp wit into posters.

With state financial support and artistic encouragement, graphic artists designed strong, original, individualistic images – often intended to surprise, provoke, or disturb viewers' beliefs and values. They frequently used camouflage and commonly understood ironies to communicate secretly with the public and subversively comment on the rigid Soviet communist regime.

The "Uncaptive Mind" collection showcases Polish posters from that era, epitomizing a remarkable tribute to artistic freedom and a powerful contrast to Czeslaw Milosz's "The Captive Mind." From circus to film posters, the exceptional fusion of artistry, intellect, and cultural resonance of the work showcased the unbreakable spirit of the human mind, influencing generations and setting an unparalleled standard in graphic design.

March 10, 2022 | 6:30 p.m. - 85:00 p.m. | Books and Books Coral Gables | Book Presentation

"From Warsaw, With Love" describes how special forces operatives from Poland were carefully chosen and sent to seamlessly rescue six U.S. intelligence officers during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990. Pomfret's delineation of this particular mission examines how two nations - who were once at odds - were able to establish a new frame-work via this unique 'blood bond' which occurred through the most inconceivable circumstances.

Mr. Pomfret discussed the book & entertained a few questions from guests. The presentation was followed by a wine reception.

Nov. 8, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Virtual | Polish Haitian Entanglements

Join the Green School for an exploration of the transnational connections between Poland and the Global South, Haiti in particular. The historical background that underpins this investigation begins with Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. From 1802 to 1805, Napoleon dispatched about 5000 Polish legionaries to Saint-Domingue, modern-day Haiti, as part of his massive effort to contain the slave rebellion that had arisen in 1791. However, a group of Polish soldiers opposed Napoleon’s efforts to subjugate the rebels. Consequently, these soldiers unwittingly took part in the creation of the world’s first black-led republic and first independent Caribbean state when it cast off French colonial control and slavery in the early 19th century.

Opening Remarks:

David J. Kramer
Director, European and Eurasian Studies Program
Senior Fellow, Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy

Guest Speakers:

Edouard Duval Carrié
Contemporary artist and curator based in Miami, Florida.

Dr. Jacek J. Kolasiński
Founding Director of the Ratcliffe Incubator of Art + Design
FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Associate Professor of Art in the Department Art + Art History
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To view flyer, click here

To watch Video Recording, click here

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: EXTENDED TO AUGUST 1st, 2021

The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc. is offering two scholarships to students for 2021-2022. The grants are given to students from variety of majors and academic disciplines.

The Harriet Irsay Scholarship Award

The American Institute of Polish Culture is accepting applications for the 29th season of the Harriet Irsay Scholarship Award. This year, the brightest and most well-rounded students in America will receive $1,500. Now is the time to prepare your application documents and get them to the American Institute of Polish Culture Inc.

For Application, click here
For Requirements, click here
Application Deadline: July 24th, 2021 - Extended to August 1st, 2021

For more information on Mrs. Harriet Irsay and her commitment to the Institute and to her Polish heritage, click here

Since the launch of the program, in 1992, over $275,000 has been awarded to 330 students from all over the country.

For more information go to the website: https://ampolinstitute.com

The Lennox Family Excellence Award

The Lennox Family Award for Excellence will begin in the 2021 – 2022 school year by granting a $1,500 scholarship to a student pursuing a degree in education. This specialty recognition allows to identify students who are already proving they have what it takes to be top teachers, administrators, and policy makers who will effect meaningful and long lasting changes in American schools.

For Application, click here

For Requirements, click here

Application Deadline: July 24th, 2021 - Extended to August 1st, 2021

For more information or any questions, contact the American Institute of Polish Culture Inc. at assistant@ampolinstitute.com or info@ampolinstitute.com